{"id":8254,"date":"2025-11-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=8254"},"modified":"2025-11-12T21:46:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T21:46:07","slug":"move-over-mulled-wine-aldis-7-49-drink-is-the-superior-winter-tipple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/08\/move-over-mulled-wine-aldis-7-49-drink-is-the-superior-winter-tipple\/","title":{"rendered":"Move over mulled wine \u2014 Aldi\u2019s \u00a37.49 drink is the superior winter tipple"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Sparkling\t<\/div>
Forget your festive favourites and give these a try (Picture: Getty Images\/fStop)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

At this time of year, we usually start heating up our beverages<\/a>, favouring mulled wines<\/a> and boozy hot chocs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But there’s an unexpected drink that’s having a bit of a moment right now, that might make you forget all about your festive favourites, and that’s sparkling red wine. <\/strong><\/p>\n

With its shocking purple colour, it looks somewhat like a leftover Halloween<\/a> concoction, but this tipple is so much more than or Prosecco’s <\/a>gothic cousin.<\/p>\n

To give a bit of context around what a sparkling red wine is, it\u2019s a regular sparkling wine <\/a>made exclusively from red grapes, left on the skins to soak up all the colour, structure and tannins (hence, its colour). <\/p>\n

It can be made using any red grape, and no matter which production method you use, the bubbles are always created by the introduction of CO2.  <\/p>\n

And let me tell you, red bubbles <\/a>are alive and shaking off their novelty status to claim their moment in the sun this winter\u2026 well, the spotlight, anyway. Because, not only are they far more interesting to talk about than mulled wine or sloe gin<\/a>, they actually taste pretty darned good, too.<\/p>\n

In fact, sparkling red is such a hot ticket that bottles of the stuff are showing up on top-tier wine lists and retailer shelves across the country. And as you\u2019d expect, Aldi<\/a> has been one of the first to pounce on the trend, bringing back their Sparkling Shiraz (\u00a37.49) from South Australia<\/a> <\/strong>in time for the festive season. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Forget\t<\/div>
It really is a delicious drink (Picture: Aldi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s received rave reviews online, with Facebook<\/a> users declaring it ‘amazing’ ‘fabulously fruity and fizzy’, ‘a delicious bargain’ and one to ‘stockpile’. <\/p>\n

So I gave it a try and agree it’s delicious, with blueberry-flavoured<\/a> bubbles and a smoky, lightly peppery, sweet-fruited, plummy, textured palate. No wonder it\u2019s been attracting some glowing online feedback from people who\u2019ve tried it. <\/p>\n

This is definitely one to serve your guests instead of traditional Christmas <\/a>tipples or Kir Royale, it\u2019ll be the festive treat they never knew they needed.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tHow best to drink a sparkling red?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

The trick with all sparkling reds is temperature and timing. <\/p>\n

Serve them between 10 and 12\u00b0C and they\u2019ll behave; too cold and you\u2019ll mute the fruit, too warm and you\u2019ll taste nothing but alcohol.  <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Interestingly, sparkling red wine isn\u2019t a new thing – it\u2019s been around for ages. <\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of Lambrusco and associate it with the syrupy Italian monstrosity wheeled out on a hostess trolly at dodgy seventies dinner parties (I know I did). <\/p>\n

But it\u2019s undergone a full glow-up since then, and is now a thoroughly dry and delicious sparkler that tastes of Bakewell tart and sour red cherries.<\/p>\n

Similar story with Australian Sparkling Shiraz, once given a raised eyebrow and a condescending snigger by the winerati. Never by me, though. Because there\u2019s nothing second rate about sparkling Shiraz, it\u2019s deep, spicy and velvety, basically Christmas in a champagne<\/a> flute. <\/p>\n

Personally, I can\u2019t imagine anything going as well when paired with a joint of glazed ham.<\/p>\n

And if you like Aldi Sparkling Shiraz\u2019s style, here are some others to add to your wine list:<\/p>\n

Reunite Sparkling Red, Italy, \u00a36.52, Asda<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Forget\t<\/div>
Perfect for sparkling red newbies (Picture: Asda)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This isn\u2019t exactly the new face of sparkling red wine I was banging on about earlier, but if you like the style of Asti, you\u2019ll be a fan. It\u2019s from Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, home of the world\u2019s oldest sparkling wine, Lambrusco. This is the stabiliser wheels for Lambrusco newbies, a gateway sparkling red, if you will. Simple, off-dry and grapey with lightly drying tannings and a pleasant bergamot note on the finish.   <\/p>\n

L\u2019Occhiolino Semi-Sparkling Red, Italy, \u00a36.99 (save \u00a31), Laithwaites<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Forget\t<\/div>
A sweet, plummy drink with bubbles (Picture: Laithwaites)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Locky-o-Leenoh\u2019 is how this stunning drop is pronounced. Produced in northern Italy\u2019s Emilia-Romagna, and fun fact, this wine used to cost \u00a312 a couple of years ago. That never happens. It\u2019s a mouthful of sweet, plummy bubbles and I\u2019m here for it.<\/p>\n

Jacob\u2019s Creek Sparkling Shiraz, Australia, \u00a312.50 Waitrose<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Forget\t<\/div>
A big brand wine that delivers (Picture: Waitrose)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the big brand sparkling red, and look, it delivers. It has all the plummy, peppery depth of an Aussie Shiraz with a river of black cherry compote running through it. Actually, it\u2019s more of a tributary, as this sparkling is on the dryer side of the spectrum. It\u2019s creamy with a lingering note of dark chocolate on the finish. You just can\u2019t fault it.   <\/p>\n

De Bortoli Woodfired Shiraz Heathcote, Australia, \u00a317, Majestic<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
An intense, crimson-coloured drink (Picture: Majestic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With intense, crimson-coloured bubbles, there\u2019s a morish meaty note to this wine that gives it an appealing sweet-sour moment. There\u2019s also punnets full of blackberry notes over juicy plum pudding-flavoured bubbles, and a silky texture. It\u2019s a bold choice, and one that could stand up to gamey notes of roast duck.<\/p>\n

New Theory Love Bite Chilled Red, South Africa, \u00a317, Ocado<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Forget\t<\/div>
A moreish and savoury wine that’s only slightly fizzy (Picture: Ocado)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now for a quirky little number from Stellenbosch in South Africa<\/a>, made from Cinsault grown overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It has a fresh, Beaujolais-style with boatloads of red and purple fruit and a moreish savoury note on the finish. Made from old vines, which give it even more concentration, and it\u2019s only slightly fizzy for those who are weirded out by the whole sparkling red concept.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forget your festive favourites and give these a try (Picture: Getty Images\/fStop) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more At this time of year, we usually start heating up our beverages, favouring mulled […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8254"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8254"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8264,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8254\/revisions\/8264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}